Train-order



(No Model.)

0. E. BIDDISON. TRAIN ORDER.

No. 437,557. L Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

W/ TNE SSE S BYS duwwwfi,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE E. BIDDISON, OF GOO DLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-FIFTHS TO SIMEON G. STAPP, OF PHILLIPSBURG, KANSAS.

TRAIN-ORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,557, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed May 8, 1890. Serial No. 351,002. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BIDDIsoN, of Goodland, in the county of Sherman and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Im proved Train-Order Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. My invention relates to an improved trainorder holder, and has for its object to provide a holder in which orders written upon manifoldpaper or other translucent material may be expeditiously and conveniently inserted and the said orders read with equal facility at day or night.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder with a signal, whereby the engineer or conductor, or both,willbe reminded that the train is not to leave the station until orders for its further movements have been received.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a section on line 00a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line y y of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a partial front elevation of the device, illustrating the clamping-sash of one of the compartments of the holder in in an elevated position;

The frame A of the device may be of any size or shape; but the said frame is preferably made rectangular, and the top and bottom bars 10 and 11 of the frame are provided at the front one with a downwardly and the other with an upwardly extending longitudinal flange 12, and both of said bars at. the back are provided with two spaced flanges 13 and 1 1, the outer flanges 14 being of less width than the inner flanges.

The frame is divided into any number of compartments by vertical partitions 15, extending from top to bottom. The holder illustrated in the drawings is represented as be ing provided with three compartments B, B, and B and when the frame is so constructed the partitions forming the side walls of the central compartment B have formed upon their front edges hooded slideways 16. In each compartment a paneof glass 17 is located, the said panes being made to contact at their bottom edges with the front lower flanges 12 of the frame and at their upper edges with the upper rear flange 13. Thus the panes are given an upward and rearward inclination.

In connection with these compartments adapted to receive a train-order, a clampingsash 18 is employed, which sashes have attached to the outer face of their upper cross: bars a spring 19, preferably a bow-spring, as

illustratedin Fig. 4, the extremities of which spring are carried at an angle upward from the body and are provided with apertures. Through the apertured end of each spring a rod 20 is loosely passed, the said rods at their extremities being firmly secured in the upper portion of the order-compartments. The sash is of sufficient length when closed to project downward below the under edge of the frame.

The train-order 21 is written upon the usual manifold paper or other translucent material, and is placed in the proper compartmentin contact with the glass pane 17, as shown in Fig. 3, the sash 18 being in an upper inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 4:. When the order has been placed in its compartment, the sash is carried downward, whereupon the spring is forced to turn upon its pivotal sup-' porting-rod 20, and when the flat surface of the spring is practically parallel with the transverse axis of the pane 17 the said spring forces the lower end of the sash to close against the frame and retains it in said closed position, as illustrated best in Fig. 3.

The glass pane 17 which is placed in the signal-compartment of the frame, is preferably a colored glass, red being the color usually employed, and the front of the colored or signal glass is concealed at the will of the operator by a cover 22, which cover may consist of a shade 23, attached to a spring-roller mounted to turn in the upper portion of the signal-compartment in front of the pane, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which event when the shade is drawn downward the light is prevented from shining out at the margins by the hood 16. The curtain-cover is held to conceal the glass ordinarilyby attaching to the lower end of the cover a ring, which is made to engage with a,hook 24, attached to thebottom of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2 5 but instead of a curtain any form of a slide may be employed as a cover for the signal-compartment. In connection with the frame any suitable form of lamp is employed. The said lamp, however, is open at that side opposite the back of the frame, and is held to slide upon said frame by forming grooves 26 at top and bottom of the lamp, into which grooves the rear flanges 14 are made to enter. Thus the lamp may be slid to the rear of any one of the compartments or removed at either end ofthe frame for purposes of filling or cleaningr Usually, however, the lamp is allowed to remain immediately at the rear of the signal-compartment, and in order that the lamp may be effectually retained in the position in which it is placedany form of clamp may be secured to the lamp, adapted for engagement with the flanges 14., above referred to. In operation. it is usual for the superintendent to execute orders upon manifold paper in triplicate, one of the copies being intended for the engineer, another for the conductor, and the third isto remain on file in the office. A device of the character described is placed in the cab of the engine in such manner as to be readily seen by the engineer, and the said device may be attached to any support in any suitable or approved manner. A similar device is also attached to a coach of a train, the

baggage-car, or caboose, where it will be conthe train is running the cover is pulled down I venient to the conductor; or the device, in-. steadof being placed inside of the car, may be placed outside of the same, if desired.

The lamp is kept lighted at night, and when to conceal the light; but when the train reaches a station having a signal displayed notifying the train to stop for orders the conductor or engineer immediately releases the cover upon observing the signal to expose the signal of the device, and the signal of the device-namely, the light shining through the colored glass-is kept uncovered as a reminder that orders are to be received and that the train is. not to leave the station until such orders have been received. Immedidiately upon the receipt of the'orders the engineer and conductor again cover the signals and the train may depart.

It will be observed that the device is simple H in its construction and that orders maybe conveniently inserted and retained therein and read equally as Well at night as in the day; also, that when such a device is employed a constant reminder of their orders is before the engineer and the conductor, and

in its front, a cover for one of the compartments, and a lamp adjustably secured to the rear of the frame, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a train-order holder, the combination of a frame provided with three compartments having inclined glass panels, sashes for covering two of the compartments, a curtain for covering the third compartment, and a lamp on the rear of the frame, substantially as herein shown and described.

4:. In a train-order holder, the combination, with a frame and a glass pane inserted in said frame inclined in the direction of its ends, of a pin secured transversely at one end of the frame, a sash adapted to close down upon the frame, and a spring attached to one end of the sash and pivoted upon the said pin, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

5. In a train-order holder, the combination, with the frame and a glass pane inserted in said frame and inclined upwardly and rearwardly, of a pin secured in the frame and extending transversely across the upper depressed portion of the pane, a sash provided with a glass pane adapted to cover the front opening of the frame, and a bow-spring secured to the sash near its upper end, the extremities of which spring are upturned and pivoted upon the said pin, as specified.

CLARENCE E. BIDDISON.

Witn esses W. J. FITZGERALD, F. T. HOLLAND. 

